Floor hinge setter



April 9, 1963 e. c. ENGELKING 3,084,424

FLOOR HINGE SETTER Filed May 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R Z M 0 E Y m i E E n N W I R I m f W m l N NE rmH m 3 a ///V/ l /M\ K) W V. w B 8 V w B N NE PH a. MW N w\ h April 9, 1963 G. c. ENGELKING FLOOR HINGE SETTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1960 IN VEN TOR. 62013? f C Kaye/h? 5 W zwzwfiwr ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,684,424 FLOOR HINGE SETTER Gustaf C. Engelking, Bax 9Q, Rte. 2, Manassas, Va. Filed May 25, 1960, Ser. No. 31,734 12 Claims. (U. 29--271) Swinging type doors are commonly mounted by means of top and bottom aligned pivots or pintles defining a vertical axis in the plane of the door. The lower pivot or hinge assembly is mounted in a cement case or metal receptacle which is fixed within a recess in the iloor, usually with its top surface flush with the floor. The usual way of fixing the cement case in its recess is to hold it firmly in correct position, then grout the space between the external walls of the case and its recess.

The aforesaid floor hinge assembly includes not only the actual pivot hearing which bears the weight of the door, but also spring mechanism yieldingly urging the door into closed position, means to vary the closing speed and spring power holding the door in closed position, and damping mechanism to check excessive swinging. The assembly is thus necessarily quite bulky, heavy and relatively expensive.

The cement case is generally rectangular in horizontal section and at its top edge has four inwardly-protruding lugs each provided with a threaded vertical hole, two on each side. A top plate forming an integral part of the hinge assembly, fits over the cement case to conceal and protect the mechanism therein and has four holes each of which, when the assembly is correctly located within the case, aligns with a corresponding threaded hole of the case. Four screws are then inserted to hold the assembly fixed within its case.

From the foregoing considerations it is clear that the positioning of the cement case properly is important and critical because, when finally positioned and grouted in place, the location of the lower pivot axis of the door is fixed and determined with relation to the door jamb.

It is therefore the chief object of my invention to provide a gage or setter which is temporarily fixedly attached to the aforesaid cement case and to the door jamb, to rigidly hold the case in proper position within its floor recess while and until it is permanently fixed in location by grouting or other means.

A further object is to provide a gage or setter of the type mentioned which assures accurate positioning of the door hinge with relation to the door jamb.

Still another object is to provide a hinge setter which makes it unnecessary to leave the hinge assembly on the job until the door is to be mounted, thus avoiding the danger of damage or theft.

Yet another object is to provide a hinge setter by which the cement case may be adjusted vertically and in two mutually-normal horizontal directions until properly located, then firmly fixed in such position while being grouted or otherwise permanently fixed.

Another object is to provide a hinge setter which is usable with all sizes and types of floor hinges and which acts automatically to center the cement case and the hinge axis, transversely and along the central vertical plane of the door jamb.

Another object is to provide a hingesetter and gage which is relatively simple and easy to use, adjustable to a wide variety of uses, certain and positive in operation, and

a general advance in the art of door installation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be 7 apparent to those skilled in the art, after a study of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied 3,084,424 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 to a door jamb and in position over the floor opening which receives the hinge mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG- URE 1 but with the auxiliary jamb clamp removed for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded sectional view taken in a plane identified by line =33, FIGURE 2, and showing to an enlarged scale the gears interconnecting the front arms and the means for releasably locking them in adjusted position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken in a plane identified by line 44, FIGURE 2, and showing the assembled gears and locking means therefor;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the auxiliary adjustable jamb clamp;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the carrying strap or handle;

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional view taken in a plane identified by line 77, FIGURE 4, showing the intermeshing gears by which the front arms are interconnected for equal and opposite angular movement; and

FIGURE 8 is a detail perspective view of one jaw and its adjustable mounting, of the jamb clamp.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 identifies the hinge setter generally, including a rectangular base plate 2 having a central longitudinal axis 3, FIGURE 2, and a forward cut-out or slot 4 which, as shown, is symmetrical with respect to axis 3. At its left end, as the parts are viewed upon FIGURES 1 and 2, base plate 2 has a vertically-upstanding, integrally connected part 5 which projects at each end, equal distances beyond the plate and has a horizontal dimension normal to axis 3 suificient to span any door jamb encountered in practice.

Referring especially to FIGURE 8, one element 6 of the jamb clamp may comprise a sheet of heavy-gage metal shaped and bent to form a jaw 7 and a slide 8 bent at its vtop and bottom as at 8a and Sb, to form guides slidably at 13 and which, when tightened, fix the clamp element in a selected position of adjustment relatively to part 5.

The other projecting end of part 5 is bent outwardly at Sat, FIGURE 2, and provided with a threaded aperture receiving a set screw 14 having a knurled head 14:: and,

at its other end engaging a jaw 15 complementary to jaw 7 and slidably connected with part 5 in a like manner.

By the construction just described, the device may be fixed to a jamb with plate 2' in any selected position hori- Zontally transverse thereof, by first adjusting clamp ele- .ment 6, tightening nuts I3, applying jaw 7 to one side of the jamb and turning screw 14 until jaw 15 is forced against the other side of the jamb. The specific manner of use will be subsequently described.

.The cement case and its four threaded holes by which the lower hinge assembly is secured within the case have been previously described, and the lugs within which these holes are formed are indicated in dot-dash lines at D, E, F and G, FIGURE 2, in cement case H.

My invention includes two pairs of arms, namely, a front pair 16, 17, and a back pair 18, .19, together with 'means hereinafter described by which each pair may be adjusted separately in a direction along axis 3, and equally and oppositely angularly adjusted in a common plane a respective one of the holes in the cement case and thus secured to the case by the same screws that come with the assembly and are later used for securing the hinge in position within the case. Furthermore, the construction 3 is such that the case may be adjusted relatively to the door jamb, vertically and in two mutually-normal horizontal directions, to thus precisely determine the emplaced position of the hinge axis.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 2, arm 16 has a gear segment 20 formed integrally with its inner end. At its out end this arm has a relatively short extension 21 pivoted to it by a screw 22. The pivot joint is a conventional half-lap one so that the arm and its extension lie in a common plane. The radially outward end of the extension has a grommet 23 through which a screw may be passed and threaded into a corresponding hole of the cement case. The other arm '17 is essentially a duplicate of the one just described so that it is sufficient to identify its integral gear segment 24, extension 25, pivot 26 and grommet 27 in the distal end of the extension. The purpose of the two-part arms is merely to avoid obstruction of certain adjustable parts of the hinge mechanism.

From FIGURES l and 7 it is noted that gear segments 29 and 24 are pivotally mounted at their centers, and in mesh. The construction and arrangement is such that arms 16 and 17 make equal and opposite angles with axis 3 of plate 2, for all positions of adjustment thereof.

Means are provided for pivoting these arms at the centers of their respective gears segments, in a slide generally identified at 28, having means by which the slide may be releasably locked in any position of adjustment along slot 4 and, at the same time, both arms releasably secured in a selected position of pivotal adjustment.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, a rectangular lower or bottom plate 29 slidably fits a slot 30 in a lower base plate 31 fixed in any suitable manner, as by machine screws or spot welding, to and beneath plate 2. This lower base plate has the same width as plate 2 and is coextensive therewith from their left ends, as the parts are viewed upon FIGURES l and 2, to dotted line 32, FIGURE 2, indicating the right end of plate 31. From FIGURE 3 it is seen that slot 30 is a little wider than slot 4 to provide overhang at and along each side edge. Thus plate 29 has a smooth sliding fit in and along slot 30 in lower base plate 31 but abuts the overhanging edges of slot 4 in plate 2.

Referring to FIGURE 4, a pair of screws 34 and 35 extend upwardly through respective longitudinally-spaced apertures in plate 29 and at their upper ends are threaded into corresponding apertures in a retainer 36 of heavier gage metal and having a central threaded aperture receiving a set screw 38. Immediately below retainer 36 a top plate 33 has apertures which slidably fit screws 34 and 35 so that it may slide thereon. From FIGURE 2 it will be noted that top plate 39 is shown as diamondor lozenge-shape, with the apertures for screws 34 and 35 at two opposite corners thereof and a second pair of apertures 40 and 41 in the other two corners. A pair of pivot screws or shafts 42 and 43 mounting gear segments 20 and 24, respectively, pass through this second pair of apertures.

Next below top plate 39 is positioned a buffer plate 44, preferably of hard rubber, and which is conveniently of the same shape as, but considerably thicker than top plate 39. Also, plate 44 has a central downward projection 44a tapered to fit a corresponding opening in a friction plate 46 which may likewise have the same shape or outline as plates 39 and 44. Like plate 39, plates 44 and 46 have holes through which screws 42 and 43 pass freely. However, the holes 47 and 48 in buffer plate 44 are enlarged to receive a pair of coil springs 49 and 50 which fit about the pivot screws 42 and 43, respectively, and act continuously to urge friction plate 46 downwardly onto the gear segments 26 and '24. Likewise, a second or lower pair of coil springs 51 and 52 surround the pivot screws 42 and 43 when assembled, and continuously urge lower friction or pressure plate 33 upwardly against the lower faces of the gear segments. The two plates 33 and 46, in conjunction with the springs and other assembled parts, act to restrain pivoting of arms 16 and 17, with an appreciable amount of friction. At the same time, springs '51 and 52 act to urge lower plate 29 away from plate 2 so that the entire slide assembly may be freely adjusted along slot 4. However, when set screw 38 is turned down, its end engages top plate 39 and forces it against buffer plate 44 which, with friction plate 46, is forced down upon the gears to lock them and arms 16 and 17 in adjusted position. In this operation the lower projection 44a of plate 44 is forced slightly through the opening in plate 46. Since the reaction of the force applied by turning of set screw 38 is taken by screws 34 and 35, lower plate 29 is also, at this time, pulled upwardly against the lower surface of base plate 2. Thus, tightening of set screw 38 effects the two functions of locking arms 16 and '17 in angularly adjusted position, and also of securing them in translatory position along slot 4.

The second pair of arms 18 and 19 have previously been mentioned and from FIGURE 2 it is noted that these arms have respective, integral, intermeshing gear segments 53 and 54. The second arms are longer than the first pair 16 and 17 and have grommets 55 and 56 fixed in their ends. All grommets 23, 27, 55 and 56 have central openings receiving with a smooth fit the screws by which the top plate of the hinge assembly is secured to and over the cement case, previously described, and preferably, but not necessarily have their tops flush with the top surfaces of the respective arms.

The outer edge of lower base plate 31 is indicated at 32, FIGURES 1 and 2. Plate 2 continues outwardly and has transverse spacer elements 57 and 58 secured to its top surface by screws 59 and 60 which also secure to plate 2, a guide plate 61 in spaced relation thereabove. Plate 61 has longitudinally-extending parallel slots 62 and 63. It is noted that FIGURE 2 shows plate 61 centrally broken away to show the intermeshing gears beneath it, as well as their pivotal mounting on a slide 64 which extends transversely beneath plate '2 and has upturned ends fitting up about the side edges of plate 2 to limit movement of the slide to translation along the plate.

The pivot screws 65 and 66 for arms 18 and 19, respectively, have heads which are seated in holes drilled in slide 64 and extend upwardly through slots 67 and 68, FIGURE 2, in plate 2, centrally through gear segments 53 and 54, and slots 62 and 63, all respectively. Nuts 69 and 70 threaded upon the pivot screws at their top ends, complete the assembly by which the gears may be slid to any position along slots 62 and 63, and pivoted equally and oppositely for any position of translation. As in the case of arms 16 and 17, previously described, the arms of the second pair are initially assembled to make equal and opposite angles with the center line or axis 3 of plate 2. No means are required for clamping arms '18 and 19 either in pivotal position of adjustment or in translatory position along plate 2.

FIGURE 5 shows a jamb clamp which cooperates in properly locating the main assembly just described. This clamp comprises a base 71 having upturned ends 72 and 73 with threaded apertures receiving screws 74 and 7-5, respectively. Screw 74 has its inner end swiveled in the upstandng part of a clamp element 76 mounted for sliding on and along base 71 by means shown as a headed rivet 77 passing through a central longitudinal slot in the plate. Likewise, clamping screw has its free end swiveled to a clamp element 78 similarly slidably secured with base 71 by rivet 79. A hook 80, FIGURES l, 5 and 8, is attached'to the lower edge of base 71 centrally thereof and is constructed and arranged to engage an eye 81, FIG- URE 8, secured to the top center of part 5.

FIGURE 6 shows a strap 82 of leather or fabric, having hooks 83 and 84 fixed with its ends. Use of the setter is facilitated by inserting one hook through an eye 85 secured to the lower central surface of base part 5, shown at FIGURE 8, and the other through a similar eye 86 secured centrally to the outer end of plate 2, so that the setter may readily be carried, lowered into and raised from working position as desired, with the cement case attached.

In use, with the set screw 38 loosened, the setter is placed over the cement case which is to enclose and protect the hinge mechanism. The arms 16 and 17 are pivoted outwardly until their grommets are over the threaded holes in the lugs -D and G, respectively, of the cement case. Then the screws which come with the hinge assembly, are inserted through the grommets and turned down to secure the ends of these arms to the case. Arms 18 and 19 are similarly adjusted by pivotal and sliding motion until their grommets are over the threaded holes of lugs E and F of the cement case. See FlGURE 2. Then screws are inserted through the grommetsand turned into the holes of the cement case to firmly attach the ends of the arms thereto.

.with its hooks '83 and 84 engaged with eyes 85 and 86 and, with the cement case attached, is lowered until the cement case fits within the floor recess with eye 81 engaging over hook 80 as in FIGURE 8. The adjustments are such that the parts rest upon the floor surface adjacent the hinge opening K, FIGURE 1, with axis 3 horizontal and in the central plane of the door, that is, in a vertical plane midway of the jamb I. When so positioned the hinge axis, when the case is permanently set and the hinge mechanism is fixed therein, will pass vertically through the center of dot-dash circle L, FIGURE 2, normal to the plane of the figure.

The cement case being thus firmly secured in position, is cemented in place and, with the gage attached, left until the cement has set. Then the gage is removed and the hinge mechanism is installed later, when the door is to be mounted.

Of course, the foregoing is but one of the many different Ways in which my invention may be used and the steps described may be widely varied in sequence. While I have described and shown the form of the invention presently preferred by me, numerous changes in shape, alterations in arrangement of parts, and substitutions of equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art, after a study of the foregoing disclosure. Consequently the disclosure should be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and it is my desire and intention to reserve all modifications and substitutions within the scope of the subjoined claims.

In these claims, the term central plane of the door means a plane parallel with and centrally of the door opening. The term jamb is to be interpreted to include, as well as the completed jamb, framing, permanent or temporary, which will determine the final emplaced position of the jamb and door thereof.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fioor hinge setter and gage comprising, a plate having a longitudinal axis, a slide mounted on said plate for guided translation thereby along said axis, a pair of arms pivoted to said slide, means interconnecting said arms for equal and opposite angular movement on opposite sides of said axis, the distal end of each said arm being adapted for connection with a floor hinge part, and means connected with said plate to adjustably fix the same to a door jamb.

2. A fioor hinge setter comprising, a plate having a longitudinal axis, a slide connected with said plate for 6 guided translation thereby along said axis, a pair of arms pivoted on said slide, means connecting said arms for equal and opposite angular movement on respective sides of said axis, an element movably mounted on said slide, and means operated by movement of said element to simultaneously fix said arms on said slide and said slide on said plate, the distal ends of said arms being attachable to a fioor hinge part.

3. In a floor hinge setting device, a base plate having a longitudinal axis, a clamp fixed With one end of said plate and operable to clamp the same to a door jamb part, with said axis horizontally in the central plane of the door, first and second slides mounted on said plate for independent guided translation along said axis, first and second pairs of arms each pivoted to a respective one of said slides, each said arm being connectable with a floor hinge member, and means interconnecting the arms of each said pair for movement equally and oppositely on respective sides of said axis.

4. A floor hinge setter comprising, a plate having a longitudinal axis, a slide, means mounting said slide to said plate for guided translation thereon parallel with said axis, first and second arms mounted on said slide and extendable in respective opposite directions on opposite sides of said axis, each said arm being adapted for connection of its distal end with a hinge case suspended therebeneath, means connecting said arms for equal and opposite extension, and jamb clamp means connected with said plate and adjustable to vary the transverse position of said plate, slide and arms with respect to the central plane of a door to be hinged.

5. In a gage and floor hinge setter as in claim 4, said jamb clamp means comprising a base, complementary jaws movably mounted on said base for movement toward and from each other, means connected between each said jaw and base to independently move the same as aforesaid, and interengaging means to interconnect said base and plate and comprising complementary elements carried by each.

6. A floor hinge setter comprising a frame plate having a longitudinal axis and adapted for positioning over the opening for a floor hinge, with said axis horizontally in the central plane of the door, a jamb clamp connected with said frame plate and operable to transversely adjust said frame and axis relatively to the jamb, slide means carried 'by said frame plate for guided translation parallel with said axis, a pair of arms pivotally carried by said slide means for connection at their distal ends with a floor hinge part, and means interconnecting said arms for equal and opposite pivotal movement to maintain equal the angle which said arms make with said axis, on opposite sides thereof.

7. In a gage for setting the cement case of a floor hinge, a horizontal plate having a central longitudinal axis, means connected with said plate to engage a vertical part of -a door jamb and adjustable to translate said axis in a horizontal direction normal thereto, a slide mounted on said plate for translation parallel with and along said axis, a pair of arms each having an aperture in its distal end for connection with the sides of the cement case, and means connecting said arms to equally and oppositely move said arms at opposite sides of said axis, to maintain equal the distances of said apertures from and upon opposite sides of said axis.

8. In a device of the type described, a base plate having a longitudinal axis and a central slot with sides parallel with said :axis, a bottom plate overlapping the side edges of said slot at the lower side of said base plate, a pressure plate fitting said slot for guided translation therealong, first and second intermeshing gears above said pressure plate, a friction plate mounted over said gears and having an opening therein, friction means mounted in said opening, a top plate mounted over said friction plate, first and second pivots extending through all said plates each journaling a respective one of said gears, a retainer mounted above said top plate, mean rigidly interconnecting said bottom plate and retainer, a screw threaded into said retainer and operable to force said top plate and said bottom plate together to thereby fix said gears in rotational and translatory positions with respect to said base plate, and first and second arms integrally connected each with a respective one of said gears, the distal end of each said arm being adapted for connection with the cement case of a floor hinge.

9. In a floor hinge setter and gage, a base having a longitudinal axis and adapted for positioning over the floor opening fora hinge, with said axis horizontal in the vertical plane of the door, said base comprising integrally-connected upper and lower base plates having superposed, respective, first and second slots symmetrical with and extending along said axis, said second slot being wider than said first slot, a slide comprising a pressure plate and a bottom plate, slidably fitting said first and second slots, respectively, for guided translation therealong, a first pair of intermeshing gears superposed over said upper base plate, a friction plate, a buffer plate of compressible material, and a top plate superposed in the order mentioned over said gears, a pair of pivots extending through respective aligned apertures in all said plates,

.each centrally through a respective one of said gears, a

retainer positioned over said top plate, means rigidly interconnecting said top plate and said bottom plate in spaced relation, there being an opening centrally in said friction plate over the inter-meshing portions of said gears, said buffer plate having a projection integral with its lower face fitting the opening in said friction plate, a set screw threaded through an opening in said retainer and operable to engage said top plate to thereby compress said gears between said pressure plate and said friction plate and, simultaneously, to compress the edges of the slot of said upper base plate between said gears and said bottom plate to thereby fix said gears in adjusted position of translation along said slots, and a first pair of arm each fixed with a respective one of said gears on opposite sides of said 3 axis and making equal angles therewith, the distal ends of said arms having means for attachment to the cement case of a hinge to be emplaced.

10. A floor hinge setter and gage as in claim 9, the pivot apertures in said buffer plate being enlarged to accommodate a first pair of coil springs, each surrounding a respective pivot, and the pivot apertures in said pressure plate being counterbored from below to accommodate a second pair of coil springs, each surrounding a respective pivot.

11. A floor hinge setter and gage as in claim 9, a second pair of gears, a second pair of arms each fixed with and extending from a respective one of said second pair of gears and having means for attachment to the cement case, and means mounting said second pair of gears for sliding pivotal guided movement on said base, along said axis, said second pair of arms making equal angles with said axis upon opposite sides thereof.

12. A gage for setting the floor hinge of a door, comprising, a plate for positioning over a recess in the floor adapted to receive the case of a floor hinge, said plate having :a longitudinal horizontal axis, a slide mounted on said plate for guided translation thereby along and parallel with said longitudinal axis, a pair of arms pivoted to said slide on vertical axes normal to said longitudinal axis, means interconnecting said arms to constrain them to equal and opposite angular movement, each said arm making the same angle with, and upon respectively opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, the distal end of each said arm having means adapted for connection with a corresponding side of said case, and means connected with said plate and engageable with the door jamb to fix the position of said longitudinal axis parallel with the central plane of the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A FLOOR HINGE SETTER AND GAGE COMPRISING, A PLATE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A SLIDE MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE FOR GUIDED TRANSLATION THEREBY ALONG SAID AXIS, A PAIR OF ARMS PIVOTED TO SAID SLIDE, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID ARMS FOR EQUAL AND OPPOSITE ANGULAR MOVEMENT ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID AXIS, THE DISTAL END OF EACH SAID ARM BEING ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH A FLOOR HINGE PART, AND MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID PLATE TO ADJUSTABLY FIX THE SAME TO A DOOR JAMB. 